A focus on helping our children

Dec. 30, 2012

When this 4-year-old was brought to authorities' attention, he weighed 19.6 pounds and couldn't speak. His mother was prosecuted for neglecting him and is currently serving a prison sentence. Within a week of being placed in protective custody, this 4-year-old gained seven pounds. He came into care at 19 pounds. Now 8 years old, he's been adopted and is thriving.Photo courtesy Greene County Juvenile Office

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January 1 “During his second interview, (the father) admitted to touching all three of his daughters. He stated that he was just teaching them about sex and love. He then added, ‘Who better than one of their parents to teach them?’” January 9 The 8-month old child had “bruises across his forehead and on his temples, a swollen area on the left side of his head toward the top and behind the ear, bruises on the bridge of his nose and on his eyelids and a bite mark on his lower left leg near the ankle” as well as “a skull fracture, several compressed vertebrae and multiple rib fractures.” January 29 The mother said “she took a 30 cc shot of methamphetamine … drank approximately one-half gallon of Seagram’s…” She woke up and said she saw her 1-month old had fallen off the bed. The cause of death was “listed as positional asphyxia as a a consequence of being trapped face down in a diaper bag.”

About this project

The Springfield News-Leader’s Every Child public service journalism project aims to focus public attention on critical challenges facing children in our community, to foster discussion and to build on existing initiatives to find solutions. It started a year ago.

• focus public attention on critical challenges facing children in our community.

• foster discussion among leaders and the general public.

• build on existing community initiatives and lead people to action.

Although the Every Child project also has celebrated the stories of success in the community, the brunt of the impact this past year has been with shocking stories that have begun a sometimes-painful dialogue.

Abuse, poverty stories highlight problems

The first 31 days of the year featured quotes from court documents concerning crimes against children.

In some, children described the violence perpetrated against them. In others, their attackers described the crimes committed against those helpless victims.

Those short narratives, often not more than a sentence or two long and featured on the front page of the newspaper, were among the most talked-about pieces of the project.

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Staff at the Child Advocacy Center heard from community members, asking if those pieces were real — or if the News-Leader made them up or simply exaggerated the facts.

No, said the staffers who see evidence of crimes against children every day. Those are the “clean” versions of stories heard by CAC workers. In fact, most of the disclosures they hear are too graphic to be printed in a family newspaper, they said.

“As hard as it was to read those quotes reprinted from local child abuse and neglect reports, it is nothing compared to the kids whose lives are forever altered because of a grownup’s inexcusable, irresponsible, reprehensible and cowardly actions,” said Denise Bredfeldt, the executive director of the Mayor’s Commission for Children. Bredfeldt and others quoted here are members of the News-Leader’s Every Child advisory committee.

Those stories, too, were difficult to read. The photos told as much of the story as the words, revealing the desperation of living day-to-day and the hopelessness of generational poverty. The accompanying videos were difficult to watch as well.

“I think the series has done a stellar job of heightening the awareness of what a child’s life in poverty and abuse looks like in this community,” said Jennifer Kennally, the president and CEO of the United Way of the Ozarks.

“It’s not a pretty picture and I’m so glad you captured that and never let up.”

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams agreed many of the stories were heartbreaking — but necessary.

He said: “Although there are a lot, a lot of negatives surrounding these issues, nothing but good can result from this project.”

Making a difference

Reflecting on 2012, advisory board members emphasized the awareness brought to the community, and the need to continue that momentum.

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“I think the most important thing we accomplished during 2012 was to open people’s eyes to the problem(s) we encounter on a daily basis regarding children’s issues here in the Ozarks: abuse, poverty, neglect, etc.,” Williams said.

“What I’ve learned is that this is an issue with multiple, interlocking parts,” said Springfield Mayor Bob Stephens. “Whether you begin with nutrition, child abuse, school readiness, drugs, bullying, parental sabotage, generational poverty or any of the myriad of other issues dealing with children in poverty, it’s an extremely complicated issue.”

The project includes a 22-member advisory board made up of stakeholders and experts in a variety of backgrounds. The board meets quarterly to discuss the stories published during that quarter, as well as next steps.

The group has shared the changes seen as a result of the project.

Loni Brewer said volunteers and donations are up at Rare Breed. Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Norm Ridder said his staff has seen more attention to readiness issues for children.

Kennally credited the News-Leader’s work for some of the success of the United Way campaign this year. The campaign has raised nearly $3.9 million and is expected to eventually reach the goal of $4 million — more than a 15 percent increase from the previous year.

“I know the series made a difference in our United Way efforts this fall,” she said. “And we are so appreciative of that. . . I don’t think our stretch goal would have been effective without your pictures and stories every day.”

Yet there is still much work to be done.

The Child Advocacy Center in Springfield is on track to see more than 1,200 children this year regarding allegations of abuse or neglect. In 2010, that number was 828.

The loss of the Children In Crisis tax credit — it sunset in August without renewal from the General Assembly — also has threatened needed funding for a variety of children’s charities in the Ozarks, including Court Appointed Special Advocates and Isabel’s House.

Hopes for 2013

“The Every Child project has raised awareness within our community to a completely new level; not just in a nice way, but in a realistic way,” Bredfeldt said.

“Often when we hear about children growing up in difficult circumstances like abuse and poverty, we dismiss it as being somewhere else with someone else’s kids.”

In reaction to the stories, several programs have been launched to address problems brought into focus.

The 27th class of Leadership Springfield, a program through the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, has decided to begin an effort to combat child abuse in the Ozarks.

The group will meet in January to discuss options and decide on next steps.

Council of Churches of the Ozarks has refocused its efforts on outreach for children, especially those in foster care.

Going forward, advisory board members hope for continued discussion and impact with the project.

“At our very first meeting as a group we talked about a collective action plan. That is still what is needed. It’s what we’ve always lacked,” Kennally said.